Man, good thing I stayed away from the spoilers this week. I was genuinely shocked at Eko's passing. AAA did such a great job in the role and was such a fan favourite that I thought he was going to be a staple, but I guess that's what makes it more shocking. Nobody expected Boone or Libby to die either, I support.

Two important facts about the Monster -- it appeared to Locke as bright light, and it can apparently shapeshift into human form (Yemi, the guys Eko cut up in the church, etc.). Does this mean that the other apparitions on the island, like Kate's horse, Jack's dad, various flashback characters, have all been the Monster jerking people around? Can the Monster imitate anything, or just dead things, not unlike the First Evil in the last season of Buffy?

I kind of like Nikki and Paulo so far. Nikki is enthusiastic, and is a character with enough fresh perspective to ask some of the basic questions that seem to have eluded the main cast. Locke's "Well, now I feel like an idiot" response to her point about the other TVs was pretty funny. As for Paulo, he seems to be slated for the "cast a-hole" slot that was previously held by Sawyer and briefly by Charlie.

First guess on Johnny Eyepatch: Radzinsky. And that was his glass eye the Tailies found in the mini-hatch last season.

I doubt Jack will go through with killing Henry, given his natural messiah complex. It also doesn't make logistical sense, since the other Others (Pickett, Tom, etc.) would want to lynch him if their leader died during surgery, and would also threaten the lives of Kate and Sawyer, too.

(edited by Big Bad on 1.11.06 2308)"I don't know what is more disquieting -- the fact that the rest of the statue is missing, or that it has four toes."

I liked Juliet's shenanigans, although I just can't see Jack going along with it. He's too good to fit the killer mold, plus he's smart enough to know that if he kills Ben, he's not likely to make it out alive.

However, I'm REALLY pissed off at this show right now. Eko was probably my favorite character (either him or Sawyer), and even though I knew it was coming, I still can't believe they did it. I respect the writers' willingness to kill off a main character to forward the plot and emphasize the dire nature of the survivors' situation, but now it's getting ridiculous. If they kill off Sawyer, I don't think I can watch the show anymore.

(I say that now, but we'll see how I feel when they axe him halfway through season 4.)

Originally posted by Big BadTwo important facts about the Monster -- it appeared to Locke as bright light, and it can apparently shapeshift into human form (Yemi, the guys Eko cut up in the church, etc.).

I figured the bright light Locke was talking about was something else because he definitely saw the Monster as a "black column of smoke" (as he described it to Kate) back in Season 1. Kate saw it too.

Originally posted by Big BadI kind of like Nikki and Paulo so far. Nikki is enthusiastic, and is a character with enough fresh perspective to ask some of the basic questions that seem to have eluded the main cast. Locke's "Well, now I feel like an idiot" response to her point about the other TVs was pretty funny. As for Paulo, he seems to be slated for the "cast a-hole" slot that was previously held by Sawyer and briefly by Charlie.

First guess on Johnny Eyepatch: Radzinsky. And that was his glass eye the Tailies found in the mini-hatch last season.

I totally forgot about the glass eye...but I thought that Kelvin said that Radzinsky shot himself, hence the ceiling stain, and that he only had 108 minutes to bury him...When I think about it, it could be anyone. The crash survivors have been on the island a little over two months now, and since we know that Kelvin was on the island just that short time ago, I'd think it possible that there may be other Dharma people....around.

Nikki is totally getting a way too heavy "we need new characters" push. Personally, I'd get a kick out of seeing the guy with the rash again, that wanted to play in the Island Golf Classic. Another Rose and Bernard appearance would be kinda cool, also.

Lord loves a workin' man.Don't trust whitey.See a doctor and get rid of it.

I hate that Eko is dead. What a great flashback episode for him though. Too bad Desmond didn't foresee this coming. Smoky is now on my list.....

Does this now leave Bernard as the only surviving Tailie ?

I can't help but begin to think that Ben & Juliet are brother & sister. No concrete evidence to point to but a feeling that I get from watching their interaction. Juliet is on my list too but that is entirely different list.

Not sure who eyepatch is but wasn't there one hatch missing in the map on the back of the door ?

Nikki & Paulo are both no-sells for me right now. As recent cast history shows, they would be smart to stick to cabs & car services to get around Hawaii.

Have to agree that Jack is too much of good soul to "pull the trigger" on Ben's neck. Sawyer wouldn't blink.

and where are the children ?

Is it next wednesday yet ? I am headed to abc.com to watch it again today between meetings & phone calls.

Originally posted by jfkfcAnother Rose and Bernard appearance would be kinda cool, also.

I agree, but sadly, Rose and Bernard aren't eye candy.

Allow me to offer up the following theory: what if instead of AAA and Michele Rodriguez and the chick that played Libby being written off the show because of their incidents, they instead all found out they were going to be killed, and the subsequent reaction to essentially being fired was to go out and be stupid and get arrested? I'd rather believe that as opposed to Disney imposing some sort of morality on their LOST stars. Otherwise, Eko's death pisses me off. I suppose we can now start counting the Smoking Gun as a spoiler site. I look forward to listening to Lindeloff and Cuse deny otherwise during next week's podcast.

Otherwise, it was an okay episode. I was surprised that the smoke monster opted to bash Eko as opposed to shredding him like the pilot, but given that Eko's weapon of choice was his Jesus Stick, I suppose there's someting appropriate in the decision to bludgeon him to death. Sadly, I have a feeling that was chosen more for the CGI than any ironic significance.

As for Nikki and Paolo, meh. They haven't really done anything yet to justify themselves, though I'm sure they will. The whole Hurley talking to Locke about Jack being cliquish conversation felt forced. I guess Jack wants to run more of a representative republic whereas Locke is a fan of democracy.

I agree that the pirate looking guy is the owner of the missing eye. Did Bernard see the eyeball in the Arrow station? Or will that secret die with Eko?

As for Ben and Juliet... I don't know how to interpret anything that goes on with them. The Others are so keen for masquerading and manipulating, that its easy to suspect that everything thus far has been intentionally set up to get Jack to do something. I'm just not sure what they want him to do. I suppose the easy solution is to believe that Juliet and Ben legitimately are at odds, but... What if Ben knew that sending Colleen to get the boat would result in Jack 'prematurely' seeing his x-rays? Is it possible that he could have gleaned that information from Walt? If Ben is as much of a bastard as he seems to be, he should easily be willing to sacrifice one of his own people. So then Ben could either know about any attempted coup on the part of Juliet, or of course, Ben and Juliet are in cahoots and somehow, Ben can't be killed. I think I'm starting to give the writers too much credit. We'll know if Ben will live or die based on whether or not Michael Emerson encounters any cops in the next few weeks...

Given Jack's track record on surgeries, isn't the only person he's really been able to save been his wife? Isn't it entirely possible that he could decide to help Ben, and then simply fail at it? Frankly, THAT would probably be the most interesting outcome of all this.

Originally posted by Big BadTwo important facts about the Monster -- it appeared to Locke as bright light, and it can apparently shapeshift into human form (Yemi, the guys Eko cut up in the church, etc.). Does this mean that the other apparitions on the island, like Kate's horse, Jack's dad, various flashback characters, have all been the Monster jerking people around? Can the Monster imitate anything, or just dead things, not unlike the First Evil in the last season of Buffy

In one of the Lost podcasts from the summer, the writers/producers said that "we have seen the monster many more times than we know." I think that answers it.

This episode was awesome. One of the coolest Lost scenes ever was Eko coming out of the church with a machete and bloody priest clothes.

Juliet's video was a pretty intense scene to watch. Everyone who thinks Juliet is the real bad one has to be right. While Ben is a manipulative bastard, something about him makes me believe him when he says "we're the good guys." I bet Jack doesn't kill Ben during surgery, and then Juliet flips shit at him somewhere she thinks is private, but really Ben is looking on.

Eyepatch guy... can't wait till that gets answered. I love Lost.

Ken Kennedy debuted a new finisher: Jeff Hardy fans will insist on calling it the Swanton Bomb, but it looks WAY more devastating when not performed by a 180-pound fruitcake.-Rick Scaia 06.12.2006

Was last night the first time that the "monster" didn't get the desired response from whomever it was trying to manipulate?

I had a feeling they were going to wrap up Echo's story based on hearing about his driving. When the entire demeaner of Yemi/monster changed at the end of their confrontation I turned to my wife and said "He's definately dead now"

But my question is, if the Monster has been able to pull so much information from each person and create a real enough illusion to fool everyone so far, how did it not know Yemi was Echo's brother?

The monster's interaction here with Ecko and Locke seems vastly different than what happened with the co-pilot in the first episode. Why would the monster simply attack him and toy with the others (if it did) with Jack's dad, Kate's horse, etc? Is it learning/evolving? Is it influenced by someone on the island? Are we to see Ecko's recent incidents as a passion play? And how did the plane get on the island?

This was the first time we've gotten an in-show rerun of flashbacks, a nod to any new people or casual viewers. But that's what the pre-show "previously on Lost" montage is for.

The show will have to do a lot more to make me like Henry or see him as a relative benign character. At any point he could have simply asked Jack for help. None of the kidnapping and imprisonment was necessary.

Originally posted by brickBut my question is, if the Monster has been able to pull so much information from each person and create a real enough illusion to fool everyone so far, how did it not know Yemi was Echo's brother?

I don't think it was that Smoky didn't know that Eko & Yemi were brothers, I think that it was Yemi disowning Eko (in Eko's mind) for the crimes that he had committed and the confession he refused to make.

Originally posted by dunkndollazDoes this now leave Bernard as the only surviving Tailie ?

If I am not mistaken, there is still the missing stewardess from the tail section, who disappeared in the woods when they were making their way to the main camp.

Also, didn't the smoke-thing have the chance to attack Locke, and didn't? Does anyone think that maybe there was something to Ben telling Locke that Locke was who he was coming for, and that is has to do with the smoke-thing, and maybe an immunity from it?

...and why didn't the island heal Ben's cancer, like it did for Rose? Either Ben is spending too much time on the wrong island, or the island is just playing favorites - and that isn't being fair. Bad island!

Lord loves a workin' man.Don't trust whitey.See a doctor and get rid of it.

what if instead of AAA and Michele Rodriguez and the chick that played Libby being written off the show because of their incidents,

Point of order - AAA's incident was driving w/out a license, and disobeying a police officer, not DUI like the other 2. Additionally, both charges against AAA were dropped after he was able to prove he had a valid license.

Someone on another board mentioned AAA not wanting to commit long term to the show, as well as not getting along w/ Terry O'Quinn.

Originally posted by jfkfc and why didn't the island heal Ben's cancer, like it did for Rose? Either Ben is spending too much time on the wrong island, or the island is just playing favorites - and that isn't being fair. Bad island!

I was wondering the same thing. Could be the island only heals the good people. Rose and Locke are nice, decent folk while Ben is clearly an asshole. Juliet's signs sure think so.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerThe show will have to do a lot more to make me like Henry or see him as a relative benign character. At any point he could have simply asked Jack for help. None of the kidnapping and imprisonment was necessary.

That's exactly what my wife said last night. Ben and The Others could have easily befriended the Losties from the very beginning, skipped all the bullshit, and Ethan, Goodwin et al. would still be alive.Had Ben just showed up at the crash site on day one, introduced himself to Jack, explained why the Others are there, and invited Jack to Dharmaville for a shower and a hamburger, he'd already be healed and everyone would be in harmony.

"How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: 'The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.' This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don't want this to happen to 2001." - Stanley Kubrick

At last, the Sado-Masochists of the W come out. You knew that Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, Date Movie, and Epic Movie were bad. Yet, for some unholy reason, some have decided to go see Meet the Spartans.